Looking back at how we renovated previous homes, there are a handful of design choices we now regret. Here we break down five things we’d change if we could go back in time. First up: the deck is gone. We removed that oversized deck and the yard already feels much more open. Of course, checking that off the list created a few new tasks (it’s basically the home-improvement version of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”). We also evaluate Sherry’s Color of the Year prediction and John shares why he won’t stick with just one tool brand.
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What’s New
- We explain why we tore the deck off in Episode #51.
- The image above shows the view from the kitchen now that the deck is gone — the railing used to block most of the grass, and Sherry is thrilled to have that view back.
- We don’t have a direct “before” from that exact angle, but here’s a photo Sherry took during demo from the other kitchen window that illustrates how dominating the deck felt — almost like a cage dropped in the yard.
- After the deck was removed, the back of the house immediately looked more original and open. We’ve labeled some remaining problem areas in the photo for reference.
- From the other angle you can see the massive stump that remained (not ideal) and the original brick steps, which we’re happy to have back.
- Here’s a 2012 flashback showing the deck with the large tree that once stood where the stump is now. The tree was so close to the house that our inspector and arborist recommended removal, so we took it down and left the stump under the deck at the time.
- We’ve crossed off several tasks since removing the deck: relocating the AC unit, having an electrician tidy up loose wires, and getting the stump ground. The yard is already looking better because of those improvements.
- There’s still a lot to do — including power-washing the brick — but we’re encouraged by how much more open the yard feels compared to when we bought the house.
What’s Not
- We mention Sherwin-Williams’ 2018 Color of the Year in the episode and how it relates to a project we recently painted — our clawfoot tub.
- We’ve referenced other brands’ Color of the Year picks on past episodes, including Behr’s 2018 and Benjamin Moore’s 2017 colors.
Design Regrets
- In Episode #62 we mentioned our first regret: the P-shaped opening in the kitchen/dining area of our second home. That layout created awkward sightlines and unnecessary transitions.
- The photo also highlights other issues we regret, like inconsistent flooring and the placement of tall cabinets on both sides of the kitchen instead of grouping them together on one wall.
- We couldn’t find a higher-resolution version of this photo, but it still shows why Sherry calls the opening “P-shaped.”
- This holiday photo of a favorite Christmas tree also reveals the flooring changes: hardwoods in the foreground, cork in the kitchen, and parquet in the hall and living room.
- There were additional transitions on the back side of the house — wide-planked pine in the master bedroom and tile in the sunroom — which made the flow feel disjointed off the parquet living room.
- We also wished we had made the fireplace double-sided so it could serve both the kitchen and living room, which would have created a more cohesive, usable focal point.
- After the makeover, we loved how the kitchen side of the fireplace turned out — imagine having the same treatment visible from the living room as well.
- The empty kitchen photo from when we moved out of our first house shows how much it could have benefited from a backsplash.
- We’ve written about installing a subway tile backsplash (it’s a doable project for a first-time tiler) and shared posts on refinishing and installing hardwood floors in multiple homes.
- For more before-and-afters, see our house tour pages featuring our first home, second home, and current home.
We’re Digging
- I picked up a $90 Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Hybrid Trimmer/Edger that I’ve been using at the beach house and here at home. The hybrid feature is handy because it can run on battery or plug in when the battery runs out.
- If you’re curious about the TV show The Good Place, binge Season 1 before watching Season 2 — the second season builds on the first and won’t make as much sense without it.
If you want a quick reference to things we’ve recommended on past episodes, we compiled a master list of “We’re Digging” picks from previous shows.
Finally, thanks to Universal Furniture for sponsoring this episode. They’re running a giveaway for $10,000 in dining room furniture.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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